FUNDRAISING TIPS
A great way to raise money is through a personal email/letter. Send it to EVERYONE you know — your extended family,
current and past friends, neighbors, old college roommates and your favorite teacher.
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Start Now! The key to a successful fundraising campaign is starting early!
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Make it personal: We all love to get personal letters, so make your letter personal. Let them know about the event
and what else is going on in your life
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Use humor: Everybody loves a chuckle, so use humor where appropriate.
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Short and sweet: If it is too long, you will lose the reader’s interest.
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Share your connection to MS: Let people know why you are walking and how you are connected with the National
MS Society and the Walk MS event.
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Ask: Very important! What separates this letter from any other letter is that you are asking them to donate to you.
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Suggest giving levels: We recommend giving your donors suggested giving levels like $4, $10, $20, $50 and $100
levels.
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Set a deadline: People are always motivated by deadlines so give them one!
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Let them know how to donate: Tell them the procedure for making a donation with step-by-step through
instructions. Be sure to include your URL address for your online donation, and if you send snail mail letters, include a
self-addressed, stamped envelope.
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Keep a list: Keep a list of all the people to whom you send letters and track your donations.
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Send out a reminder email.
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Send a thank you card.
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SAMPLE FUNDRAISING LETTER OR EMAIL
Dear (FRIEND, FAMILY MEMBER, OR CO-WORKER),
Write something personal and include information about why you are walking. In May 2006, my close friend Sue
was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Since then, it has been my mission to something about MS now. That is why I am
(WALKING/VOLUNTEERING) in Walk MS 2016 (insert date) with (TEAM NAME) for Sue.
Include information about MS. Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous
system which interrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. Symptoms range
from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any
one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of
MS. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with at le ast two to three times more
women than men being diagnosed with the disease. MS affects more than 2.3 million people worldwide.
Show them the impact fundraising has. This year, I have pledged to raise $(AMOUNT) to move us closer to a world
free of MS. Please support my fundraising efforts. Your donation will help fund cutting-edge research and life-changing
programs for people affected by MS.
Collectively, Walk MS and other fundraising efforts have helped accelerate research breakthroughs that change lives and
will end MS forever.

There are more therapies specifically approved for treating and managing MS. And there are more potential MS
therapies in development today, than at any other time in history. When Walk MS started there were none.
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MS is more quickly diagnosed, enabling early and sustained therapy to slow disease activity.

There is much greater awareness of the many symptoms of MS and ways to address them to improve quality of
life.

Scientists are making breakthroughs in identifying risk factors that can increase a person’s susceptibility to MS,
which will help lead to ways to prevent the disease.

Each person with MS can live their best life with more connections to information, resources and others with
shared experiences, and the voices of people with MS are heard and drive change wherever it is needed.
Making a donation is easy! Visit my personal page at (INSERT LINK HERE) and click on the “Donate to (YOUR NAME)!”
button. If you prefer to donate by check, please make your check payable to the “National MS Society” and mail it to me at
(YOUR ADDRESS).
Ask them to join your team. (TEAM NAME) is always open to new team members. Help us create a world free of MS by
participating with us. If you are not able to walk, consider volunteering for a few hours or raising funds as a virtual
participant. Visit my team page at (INSERT LINK HERE) to learn more.
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Let them know how to reach you or the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. If you have any questions, feel free to
contact me at (YOUR PHONE #) or (YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS), or contact the National MS Society at
nationalmssociety.org or (xxx) xxx-xxxx, option 2.
Warmest regards,
(YOUR SIGNATURE)
*Include a personal, handwritten note here and a photo of you at last year’s event*
EXAMPLE #2
Dear__________,
Join me for this year’s Walk MS!
Your participation and fundraising would mean so much to me, and to the thousands of others in our local community who
are affected by multiple sclerosis.(include a personal story as to why you walk)
I invite you to walk alongside me, or make a donation to help us get there!
By participating in Walk MS, you will help raise much-needed funds for programs, services and cutting-edge research..
Register online today, or mail in the attached registration form!
If you cannot join me the day of the walk, please make a donation! Any amount, great or small, helps make a difference in
the lives of people living with MS. You can donate through my personal Walk MS fundraising webpage at:
<<<INSERT_PERSONAL_WEBPAGE_HERE>>>
Or, you can simply send your contribution to the following address (please include my full name along with your donation):
National MS Society
<Chapter Name>
<Address>
<City>, <State> <Zip>
I appreciate your support and hope to see you at this year’s Walk MS!
Sincerely,
(YOUR SIGNATURE)
P.S. If you would like more information about the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, how proceeds from Walk MS are
used, or the other ways you can get involved to create a world free of MS, please visit <website.org>.
THANK-YOU EXAMPLE
Dear {Generous Donor}:
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On behalf of everyone living with MS, thank you for your generous donation in support of my Walk MS fundraising!
Not only does your donation bring me closer to my fundraising goal, it provides critical funds to support life-changing
programs and research breakthroughs. Your donation puts us closer to realizing our promise to STOP MS in its tracks,
RESTORE function that has been lost and END MS forever.
Once again, thank you. Together, we will create a world free of MS.
Sincerely,
(YOUR SIGNATURE)
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